Consciousness hurts much more than sleep, so Vlad kept his eyes closed, hoping the blissful darkness of his mind would return.
He felt tightness all over, a dull throbbing through his body. He cracked an eye open, and sighed in relief when he saw that wherever he was was dimly lit. He twitched his fingers, each one separately. He wiggled his toes and breathed deeply. He was okay. Now the only other thing on his mind…
"Danny…"
"Vlad? You awake?" Vlad turned his head and his eyes widened. He sat up, immediately regretting it when his temples beat like a drum. He groaned, putting a shaky head to his forehead. "Hey hey, what are you doing! Lie back down, you idiot!"
"Danny…are you okay?" Vlad rasped, his tongue clicking awkwardly against the roof of his mouth and his teeth. "W-what—"
"Would you just stop for a second," Danny sighed, stepping away from the bed for a moment. Vlad's head spun as he tried follow the boys' movements, his vision blurring on the sides. Danny returned to Vlad's side quickly, a glass cup of water in his hands. "Here."
Danny put the cold glass to Vlad's lips. The older halfa drank greedily, the cooling liquid heaven in his dry mouth and in his burning throat. Vlad grabbed Danny's hand, forcing the cup back more as he drained it.
"Better?"
Vlad nodded, wiping his mouth tiredly. His head felt clearer, but his body was still so heavy. His chest ached, and when he touched it, he felt bandages wrapped tightly around his abdomen.
"Lay down. Sleep some more. My parents will be back in a bit; they'll be able to help better," Danny said softly, putting his hands to Vlad's shoulders and gently pushing the man back onto the bed.
"Are you alright?" Vlad said quietly, his eyes roving the boy's frame and face, looking for any noticeable injuries.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just sleep, Vlad," Danny said.
"Are you sure? You're not hurt? You're parents, are they okay? A-and that shadow…god, Daniel, I'm sorry, that shadow was—"
"Sleep, Vlad," Danny said, his voice firm. Vlad heard the boy's words, but he didn't want to sleep. Everything hurt, everything ached and he was so so tired. But he wanted to stay with Danny, explain everything, make sure Danny was okay, make sure Danny didn't hate him—
"No, Danny, just answer my questions, please," Vlad murmured, reaching out with a bandaged hand.
"You need to rest up, Vlad," Danny said. He glanced to the door and then sighed, sitting on the side of the bed. "I'll explain everything then. I need you to sleep Vlad, please."
Vlad's vision was fading, his lids getting heavier. His heart was beating too fast and his chest felt like it was ripping open. He gripped Danny's sleeve. "Do you hate me?"
Danny seemed surprised by the question, but shook his head. He hesitated, and then reached out. "Of course not."
Vlad let out a breath, like a sigh, when he heard those words and when he felt Danny's hand on his head, fingers running through his hair, massaging his scalp softly.
"Sleep Vlad."
Vlad let his eyes fall shut, soothed by the gentle touch, comfortable and safe. Danny was okay. He didn't hate him.
…
When Vlad woke again, he felt more alert. He opened his eyes, his head clearer. His limbs still felt tight and heavy. He felt a small hand on his shoulder, a voice call his name. He looked over.
"Danny…?"
"Vlad, you're awake," said the voice, decidedly feminine, and not the voice Vlad wanted to hear right now. "How are you feeling? Can you sit up?"
Vlad looked up to Maddie, to the concern in her eyes. He nodded silently, wincing slightly as he forced himself up.
"Good good. Are you in any pain? Can you transform?"
"Huh?" Vlad asked, his mind going into a panic for a moment. He must have misheard her.
Maddie's smile was patient. "It's alright, Vlad. We know. We saw you and Danny go from ghost to human. He told us everything after we got you back in here to treat your injuries."
"So…so you know then…about the accident?" Vlad asked carefully.
"Why didn't you tell us, Vladdie?" Vlad looked to the doorway to see Jack, his massive frame filling the space. His shoulders were hunched, his face miserable. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Vlad stared at his hands, which were gripping tightly to the thin white sheets over his legs. Jack knew Vlad was Plasmius—the Wisconsin Ghost—Jack saw all the horrible things Plasmius had done, to Jack and Maddie and this town, and yet…and yet he looked so guilty now! How!? How could Jack look so distressed and guilty and miserable after everything Vlad had done! How could Jack and Maddie stand here, taking care of him, in their own home, after everything he'd—
"I'm sorry," Vlad whispered. "I'm sorry. For everything, I'm sorry."
"Vlad, we—"
"No, wait, just…let me say this. I should have a while ago, a long while ago but I…" Vlad shook his head before straightening up as much as the bandages would allow. He fixed them both with a hard stare before finally letting it all out. "I can't expect any kind of forgiveness, but I'm sorry. I've done awful things, unforgiveable things. All these years, I blamed you Jack, for the accident. I blamed you for turning me into a half ghost and essentially ruining my life. I wanted to make you feel as bad as I felt, and it caused me to…" Vlad glanced to Maddie briefly. He didn't want to say it out loud, only because he feared telling Jack that he had constantly tried to steal Maddie's affections might cause a rift between Jack and Maddie. He didn't want that. Instead, he gave her an apologetic stare. "I'm so sorry for it all."
Vlad looked back to Jack, who seemed shocked. "You've been nothing but a good friend from the beginning. That accident back in college, I know it wasn't your fault but I let my own foolishness and misery cloud my judgment, and for that I truly apologize. I can only hope you believe me."
Jack and Maddie stared at Vlad a moment, and just as Jack opened his mouth to speak, a voice from the doorway said, "I do."
The adults all looked over and Vlad's eyes widened to see Danny staying there, half covered in shadow from the hall and half in the light of the room. He looked very tired.
"Danny, you should be in bed," Maddie said softly, her voice hoarse as though she were holding herself together, as though she were just as tired and haunted as the rest.
"So should you and Dad," Danny said, stepping into the room. "You haven't rested all day. I want to talk to Vlad anyway. Alone."
Vlad watched as Danny's parents hesitated and then walked over to Danny, muttered something quietly before exiting, Jack shooting Vlad an odd look before disappearing. Vlad wondered how they were taking all this. Finding out their college friend was half ghost because of an old experiment, finding out their own son was a half ghost due to a similar experiment, and now everything Vlad had just said. Vlad figured they were now too emotional and mentally drained to argue, as well as awkwardly cautious and gentle around Danny. They had been hunting their own son for years. They must be horrified.
"How did they take it?" Vlad asked once Danny closed the door to the room. "Them finding out about your powers?"
"It was…stressful. Only because of everything that had happened, and you were so injured, and I was injured, they didn't really have time to think and react properly. It was just a huge shock so they haven't really responded to it much. I think they're mostly just feeling bad about all these years now," Danny said, not looking at Vlad, but anywhere else in the room. The medical supplies, the water jug, the extra sheets, the drawer beside the bed. Anywhere but Vlad. "They're dealing with it though, and they haven't kicked us out so…I have my fingers crossed that means they don't want to rip us apart, molecule by molecule." Danny chuckled but the sound was hollow and forced.
"I'm causing you all trouble," Vlad said with a sigh. "None of this would have happened if it wasn't because of me."
"What's new there?" Danny said, his lips turning up slightly in the corners. He finally looked to Vlad, his blue eyes cautious, shy. "I would have had to tell them eventually, I just never knew the right time. You helped to…push it forward."
Vlad smiled weakly. "When I actually try to do right, I still cause trouble. Now I know how you feel trying to be the hero of this fickle town."
Danny laughed a bit louder at that and Vlad's smile widened a bit more. The tension was broken.
"So…all that was true then?" Danny said, standing by Vlad's beside. "Everything? You trying to be nice, you apologizing to me and now to them…you've actually changed."
Vlad nodded. "I have."
Danny nodded too. He looked away again, just standing there for a moment. Finally he sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders slumped, his elbows on his knees. He looked so tired. Vlad reached out, touching the boy's back gently. "You should heed your parents' words Daniel, and get some rest."
"I can't sleep," Danny said, shaking his head. "Thoughts keep racing in my head, about all this. And I just want to know…I mean, I guess I just want to know what happened."
"With what?"
"With you? With—us?" Danny said, looking at Vlad. "One moment you're this scheming, evil laughing, revenge seeking, mother-flirting villain and then suddenly you're giving out gift baskets and apologizing and buying ice cream for my friends and protecting me and being nice! Vlad, this was the first time ever that you put someone before yourself. You protected me, shielded me. You got hurt in my place. You've never done something like that, and I just can't sleep when I see that my arch-enemy is so different with literally no kind of explanation for it!"
Danny's ramblings halted, his wide eyes fixed on Vlad, pleading. Vlad listened, not saying a word, not moving a muscle.
Finally, Vlad chuckled, closing his eyes and shaking his head.
"What?"
"I'm just realizing how young you are," Vlad said with a crooked smile.
Danny's cheeks reddened and he glared at Vlad. "W-what's that got to do with anything? I'm not some stupid little kid, you're just crazy! None of this makes any kind of sense!"
"Yes, I know. But If you were a few years older, perhaps you would have figured it out," Vlad said, another chuckle building in his chest. The older man just felt so tired and so light, and for some reason this whole situation seemed funny. He shook his head and looked to Danny. "You really can't think of any reason I've changed? Looking at how I've been acting all this time?"
Danny paused, his blush still visible as he glared at the man. The sixteen year old seemed to pout when he apparently couldn't come up with an explanation. "Can you just be straight forward for once in your life?"
Vlad laughed. Well, the boy asked for it.
Vlad's heart beat very fast in his chest but he remained smiling slightly as he reached out for Danny's hand. "It's because I love you, Little Badger."
Danny's eyes widened slightly, his face going redder. He looked away. "Well, yeah I figured. I mean other than all the fighting, you did want me as a son…"
Vlad shook his head. He gazed at the boy before him gently. Such a young, strong, sad, happy, sweet boy. So much like himself, isolated and yet surrounded by friends and family. This boy who made him laugh and smile and made him angry and irritated. This boy he loved more than he loved anything else in this world. A warm feeling swelled inside Vlad.
He reached out, running his hands through the boy's dark hair, so soft. His hands gently traced down to the boy's cheek, hot from the blush on his face. Vlad moved his hand to the back of Danny's neck. The ghost boy shivered.
"Not like that, Little Badger…." Vlad muttered, leaning close. Danny's eyes widened. He didn't move as Vlad briefly rested his forehead against the boy's, and then gently pressed their lips together. It was soft, and brief, a mere butterfly touch.
Vlad's moved back slightly, his heart going too fast as he looked at Danny's shocked face. Vlad wanted to lean down and kiss the boy again and again, but he restraining himself, dropping his hand and pulling away completely.
"I understand if you don't share these feelings, Daniel," Vlad said, his voice serious and he grimaced at the slight tremor in it. "I don't exactly expect you to reciprocate them, but all I ask is that after all this, you don't kick me out of your life. I'd rather simply be a mentor, or a friend, then nothing to you at all."
Danny didn't move, his eyes still wide. Vlad sighed, a furrow between his brow. "Well, say something boy, don't just—"
Danny suddenly burst to life, as if someone hit an ON button. The boy wrapped his arms around Vlad's neck and buried his face in the man's neck. "Thank you thank you thank you!"
Vlad's surprise was apparent as he stuttered, "W-what for?"
"Thank you, Vlad," Danny exclaimed, holding tight. Vlad stared at the ground as the boy clung to him. Finally he wrapped his arms around the slim young form, holding the ghost boy close. He could feel a spark deep inside him, and the warmth only grew. He never wanted to let go.
…
"I'm injured, not elderly, Daniel. I can sit down on my own," Vlad huffed as he sat on the couch, wincing slightly at the tight pressure in his abdomen. The injuries were almost completely healed but the remaining bruises and healed scars left the man feeling sore and tight almost every time he moved.
"Could have fooled me, the way you hobble around and groan," Danny quipped with a smirk, sitting down beside Vlad. Their knees touched. Danny grabbed his backpack from the corner of the couch and began pulling out notebooks and text books, handing Vlad a pen and grabbing a pencil for himself.
"So how'd you do on the test today?" Vlad asked, watching the boy as he shuffled through the notes.
"It all just clicked!" Danny laughed, beaming at Vlad. "For like the first time ever, I actually understood Algebra 2 math!" Vlad smiled at the boy's excitement, glad he could help the boy in his studies.
Vlad had spent the weekend in the Fenton home, recovering. It was awkward at first, due to all the confessions he had bestowed upon the family. Danny must have talked to his parents, or perhaps Jack was just that forgiving of a man, because Maddie and Jack continued caring for Vlad, talking with him and joking with him. Briefly, when Jack and Vlad had been alone, Jack had spoken to Vlad.
"Put the past in the past?" Jack had suggested carefully, his voice hopeful. "We were so close. Let's just start over, Vlad."
Those simple words…Vlad hadn't expected to be as moved by them as he had been. Maddie hadn't outwardly forgiven him, but she made him warm soup every evening and coffee every morning, and not once had she dumped them in his lap, so Vlad assumed everything was smoothed over.
Now Danny…Danny had been by Vlad's side nearly every second since their conversation. He sometimes would get flustered if Vlad touched him, or not look Vlad in the eye as they talked but Vlad chalked that up as teen awkwardness.
It was nice though. They talked, and played video games, Danny showing Vlad all the newest systems and games, Vlad taught Danny chess, and Sunday night, Vlad had helped Danny study for a math test. Now as they sat, Danny discussing what he'd learned in class and asking Vlad for any input, Vlad couldn't help but smile.
Danny laid the notebooks out on his lap, scribbling in it. "Okay so he said that this is supposed to represent these numbers, and then you have to divide by 2 to get this." Danny explained. Vlad leaned close, looking at the notes.
"Don't forget to square the whole thing," Vlad informed, pointing it out. Danny nodded and did just that, getting the correct answer.
"Thanks," Danny smiled.
It was strange, living with others, waking up to noises and footsteps, of smells in the kitchen. It was strange to be greeted warmly and gently reprimanded for not putting his plate in the sink, and for someone to grab his arm and lead him to the living room to play games. It was weird to converse about nothing over coffee, it was weird to wave goodbye as Danny went off to school. The house smelled so warm, the couch and rugs worn, pictures of family events everywhere, small things lying around like Maddie's books, Danny's games, Jack's half-finished sandwich, Jasmine's magazines piled neatly, that made it seem like a home as opposed to the neat, ritzy glamorous estate Vlad occupied. Alone.
Vlad felt out of place here, in this home, like he didn't belong, but also felt like he never wanted to leave. This was all he'd wanted, a place to stay where he felt cared for, where there were people and activities and laughs. And Danny. So long as Danny was there, that's where Vlad wanted to be. But he knew he couldn't stay.
Jack and Maddie had taken everything rather well, and that was probably mostly to do with the fact that they were trying to appease Danny. The guilt they must have felt once they had found out the ghost boy was their son…they were now simply trying to keep the peace. And Daniel…how was he taking it? For the boy to find out Vlad, a grown man and a past enemy, had romantic feelings for him? It was odd that he didn't seem disgusted or angry or more scared. Vlad decided to see that as a good thing. He didn't want to boy feeling pressured or nervous. Vlad had promised he wouldn't hurt the boy. He wanted to give Danny time to think, and so Vlad knew it'd be best for him to give the boy space.
Vlad sighed and looked to Danny. "I'll be leaving tonight after dinner," he told the boy.
Danny paused in his homework, looking to the man with an odd expression. "How come?"
"I'm nearly healed. I don't want to over stay my welcome—"
"You're not a bother Vlad, really—"
"I can't stay forever, Daniel." Danny paused and didn't say anything more after that.
"You should visit though!" Danny piped up, eyes bright. "I-I mean well, math is hard and you really help to make things make sense. And since you'll be better, maybe we could actually…you know train in our ghost forms. Now that mom and dad know everything, I wouldn't have to hide anything and we could practice in the lab."
Vlad smiled. "I'd like that, Daniel." He reached out, running his finger briefly in the boy's hair. Danny flinched slightly and blushed, immediately looking away. Vlad paused and dropped his hand, a pensive look on his face as he regarded the boy. "Daniel, I need you to understand something." Danny looked up at Vlad. "I told you before, that should you not return my feelings, I wouldn't be upset."
Danny's blushed deepened. "I-I know."
"So don't feel as though you owe me anything," Vlad said, leaning back against the couch. "You're a good boy, so because I saved you and your family's lives as well as confessed my feelings to you, you might feel obligated to…be nice to me. That's not the case Daniel. I want you to tell me to come by because you want me to, not because you feel like you should. I'm not going to get mad and throw a fit."
Danny smirked slightly. He shrugged. "Well you do have quite the explosive temper if I remember correctly…"
"Oh make no mistake, I will pout and sulk and throw a tantrum like the grown up I am," Vlad said with a smirk, earning an earnest laugh from Danny. "But I wouldn't get angry and snap. I have changed Daniel, I feel it. I've put all the stuff between me and your parents in the past, as I should have a long time ago. And my feelings for you, are strong." Danny's smile faded slowly and he fidgeted slightly, looking down at his notes. "I love you, Daniel. More than I thought I loved your mother. More than I've loved anyone. And that's never going to change."
Danny paused and then nodded. "I mean…" Danny trailed off and shook his head, his blush deep. "I'm just really grateful to have you here, Vlad. It's nice, because you're a half ghost like me. Like I said, I've always kind of looked up to you in a weird way and now to finally have you as not my enemy is…amazing. And it's nice because I can tell my parents are happier now too. And everything's finally cleared with them, and I feel…" Danny's eyes had grown wet and Vlad moved closer, putting an arm around the boy. Danny stiffened but when Vlad made no other motion than to simply comfort the boy, Danny leaned into the embrace. "I feel so much better. I don't feel afraid of my parents anymore, and I don't feel afraid of you anymore. There's no more secrets. And no more fighting. I mean, other ghosts I can handle but you were human so you were different. So I can handle your…feelings…for me, because at least then I can feel safer, knowing you're not going to suddenly make everything go back to how it was." Danny paused. He looked up and then quickly pulled away, rubbing at his red face, sniffling slightly. "God, I'm rambling and crying, so lame."
Vlad put his hand to the boy's cheek, wiping a drying tear trail with his thumb. "I'm glad, Daniel. And I promise, you won't have to be afraid again. I'm not going to change how I feel about you. You don't have to try so hard."
"But I really do like hanging out with you though Vlad. I do want to start training with you," the boy said. "And…well mom and dad want you to—and I want you to too!—to come over for Christmas Eve and Christmas."
Vlad's eyes widened slightly, pulling his hand away from the boy. "Christmas?"
"Yeah, it's coming up soon, and well, we figure you properly don't do much for the holidays so we wanted you to come by," Danny said, scratching his neck awkwardly. "This is all weird for us, Vlad. I mean you used to be my arch-enemy. And my parents know that you've done some bad things in your ghost form. But since you've trying, well we'll try with you."
"Thank you, Little Badger. That means a lot," Vlad said with a smile and a nod. "I'd be honored to come by for the holiday."
Danny smiled and looked back at his homework.
About an hour later, as Maddie began the dinner and Danny helped her clear the table, Vlad made his way to the guest room to pack his very few things. Basically just a set of clothes and a bag. He would be leaving in another few hours.
Slowly, a mist filled the room. Vlad paused and turned to the window, pushing away the curtains. Dimly in the reflection of the glass, Vlad saw the blank face of the mirror spirit, large solid blue eyes staring back at him. Vlad smiled, for once not annoyed by the face of the spirit.
"Thank you," Vlad said with a nod.
"You've done very well, Vlad Masters," the spirit acknowledged with a small nod of her own. "But it's not there yet."
Vlad sighed. "I know, the boy doesn't love me but…I'm happy. For the first time in forever I'm happy. I like where things are right now and that's new to me. This feeling."
"It's good," the spirit agreed. "You've finally fully acknowledged your feelings for the boy."
Vlad's eyebrows knitted together. "I've acknowledged my feelings since I saw the image in the mirror."
"No Vlad. You saw something that you didn't even realize you wanted. And then you saw the potential and you began wanting it. You pursued it, but along the way you nearly gave up many times. If you truly loved the boy, you wouldn't have. If I told you now, that it was impossible to be with the boy, would you stop loving him and pursue another?"
"No," Vlad said immediately, and realized the truth of her words. He hadn't loved Danny when this all started. He had cared for the boy mostly, but now…now it was so different. "I can't imagine my life without Daniel."
The spirit nodded. "Yes, see it now? You were struggling with yourself, with your past, with your fading feelings for Maddie and your growing feelings for the boy. Now that you finally truly love him, he can truly love you, in time."
Vlad looked away, deep in thought and then nodded. He can truly love me…Vlad thought, remembering the images in the Espil Mirror, remembering that the guardian spirit had promised it was possible. The thought made that warmth well up in Vlad again. He smiled to himself. He can love me…
"How long till—" Vlad asked but suddenly the mist faded and the mirror spirit disappeared.
"Vlad, mom says that dinner's ready."
Vlad turned to see Danny in the doorway.
"Something going on outside?" Danny asked curiously. Vlad looked to the clear window and then back to the boy.
He shook his head. "No, just admiring the view."
"Right because Buster Street in such a five star sight," Danny said with a roll of his eyes but smiled. He glanced to Vlad's bag and his smile faded slightly. "Right, you're leaving soon."
Vlad smirked and walked over, ruffling the boy's hair. "Gonna me miss, Little Badger?"
"I'm not going to miss your snoring," Danny mumbled, irritation in his movements as he tried to fix his hair. "The walls aren't all that thick you know, and I'm right next door."
Vlad laughed. "Yes well, it's not exactly like you're the quietest sleeper either, boy."
Danny blushed slightly. "I don't snore!"
"I fear you will end up like your father," Vlad sighed as though the thought deeply distressed him. "I could never sleep, and the worst was when I had a test the next day. I once had to sleep in the stairwell just to escape his monstrous snores." Danny seemed mortified, as though he were truly terrified to become as horrid a snorer as his father. But when the boy noticed Vlad's twitching smirk, the boy glared at Vlad and punched the man's shoulder.
"Oh shut up! I so do not snore!"
Vlad laughed and shook his head. Laughing felt good. Danny eventually smiled and laughed too and it felt so good. Vlad's mind was spiraling with pleasant thoughts, his core filled with a warm feeling, and so without a thought, he reached out, wrapping arm around the boy, his other hand coming up to cup Danny's cheek and leaned down.
This kiss was stronger, a firmer press of lips, Vlad's eyes closed as he enjoyed the contact. It had been so long since he held someone like this, since he could be this close and gentle and intimate—
"Hey hey," Danny muttered, pulling away. He blushed deeply and struggled from Vlad's grip. "M-mom's dinner, remember? You know, food! Now. I'm hungry and I bet you are too so w-well..." Danny didn't look at Vlad, his face a bright red and his expression troubled. He stepped towards the door, away from the man. "I'll meet you downstairs." The boy fled.
Vlad stood there, his lips still tingling from touching the boy's lips, his fingers aching to run over the boy's flesh. His heart was pounding, his face hot. He ran from me. Vlad stood there a moment, staring at where the boy had been. What if I've scared him off?
Vlad shook his head. "Relax Vladimir, it's not as though he's going to fall into my arms just because I kissed him and said I loved him. He's a teen. Just because he didn't kiss back or anything doesn't mean anything. Besides even if the mirror was wrong and he never loves me that way…Maybe it wouldn't be too bad…maybe it wouldn't be too lonely. As long as he doesn't forget about me."
100+ FOLLOWERS!? REALLY!? This is amazing, you guys are amazing! THank you all so much, for all the comments and follows and favorites and for liking this crazy story of mine. I'm so grateful you all love pompous pep as much as me and my version of the love between these two halfas! I can't say thank you enough but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Hope you all enjoy this chapter, remember to follow or favorite and leave a little comment if you can! ^^ Questions and/or corrections are fine too haha HAVE A GREAT YOU AMAZING READERS, YOU!